Abstract:
A pneumatic tire assembly includes: a tire having a pneumatic cavity; a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly, the rigid structure being bonded to the tire by a layered thermoplastic material such that a stiffness gradient is created between the structure and the tire; first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint; and a sidewall groove defined by groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the sidewall groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to bending of the bending region of the first sidewall while radially within the rolling tire footprint.
Abstract:
A method of constructing a tire includes: constructing an elongate strip core; encasing the strip core into a containment within an uncured flexible tire component, the strip core extending between an air inlet and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component; building on a tire building drum a green tire carcass from tire components including the flexible tire component and encased strip core; removing the encased strip core from the cured flexible tire component to leave within the flexible tire component a substantially unobstructed air passageway; and inserting a permanent air inlet assembly into the air inlet cavity and a permanent air outlet assembly into the air outlet cavity.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a carcass and an innerliner in direct contact with the carcass, the innerliner comprising a rubber composition comprising: at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene, copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene, and brominated copolymer of isobutylene and paramethylstyrene; epichlorohydrin rubber; and at least one delaminated talc having a BET surface area according to DIN 66131 of 10-40 m2/g, an average particle size (D50) of 4-8 microns, determined by laser diffraction measurement, and a lamellarity index of 3-15.
Abstract:
A pneumatic tire assembly includes a tire, a filter element disposed between a pneumatic cavity and atmosphere. The filter element has threads for securing to the pneumatic tire. First and second sidewalls extend respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region. The first sidewall has a bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint. A sidewall groove defines groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The sidewall groove deforms in response to bending of the bending region of the first sidewall while radially within the rolling tire footprint. An air passageway is defined by the sidewall groove and deforms when radially within the rolling tire footprint.
Abstract:
A pneumatic tire assembly includes a tire having a pneumatic cavity, first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region with the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when radially within a rolling tire footprint, a rigid structure for facilitating operation of the tire assembly with the rigid structure being bonded to the tire by a compound cement of high stiffness such that a stiffness gradient is created between the structure and the tire, and a sidewall groove defined by groove walls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of beads, apexes, and sidewall veneers, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; an epoxidized palm oil; wherein the rubber composition comprises less than 1 phr of stearic acid.